India, Jan. 28 -- India's trade relations with the United States hit a rocky patch last year after the North American nation imposed unilateral tariffs (up to 50%) on key Indian exports, including agricultural products, consumer goods, and select manufactured items.

The high tariffs made it increasingly difficult for Indian exporters to maintain competitiveness in the US market, prompting New Delhi to explore alternative export avenues to diversify trade and safeguard economic growth.

This strategic recalibration accelerated India's engagement with the European Union (EU), culminating in the eighth Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for India on January 27 in the past five years.

With a combined market valued at $24 Tn, the India-EU partnershi...